A SCHOOL has been forced to partially close after several teachers were told to isolate by Track and Trace.

In a letter to all parents, seen by this paper, the headteacher at Gosford Hill School, Kidlington, explained that one member of staff has tested positive for coronavirus.

Nigel Sellars explained: “A member of staff tested positive for Covid-19 over the weekend, following on from another member of their household testing positive before that. Whilst this is now our second case amongst the school staff, I’m pleased to be able to reassure you that this is an isolated case, contracted from outside of the school community, rather than being linked to other isolated cases in school.

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“In parallel with that news, a number of colleagues (both teaching and support staff) have been making contact over the weekend to let me know that they have been told to self-isolate through the Track and Trace app. Whilst we had thought that we could manage things with our own cover staff and supply staff, it has now reached the point where I don’t have enough staffing capacity for us to be able to function normally with all students in school.

“I’m also mindful that it’s only Sunday morning as I write this and I want to ensure that our planning builds in further contingency if more colleagues are placed in that position.”

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He said, following a ‘leadership meeting’, the school would only be open for years 7, 8 and 11 this week as well as pupils in ‘The Gateway Bubble’.

All other year groups (9, 10, 12 and 13) will be set work through Google Classroom by teachers.

He added: “In our decision making, we have prioritised examination students and younger students in order to support parents who may run into issues with childcare.

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“Whilst it might be easy to speculate about how the Track and Trace app works, we have no evidence either way as to whether the colleagues that have been asked to self-isolate through the app are linked to the positive case or not.”

Several sixth-form students were also told to stay at home by the app.

Pupils who are entitled to Free School Meals can collect their lunch from the school drive between 1.40pm and 2pm.

The Year 7 parents evening, which is scheduled to be held virtually on Wednesday, will be postponed.

The headteacher said that things should return to normal on Monday, November 16.